Method and apparatus for directing spreader spray

1. A spreader assembly comprising:

a hopper supported to a vehicle;

an extraction assembly that extracts an associated salt or the like out of the hopper; and, a chute assembly comprising:

a frame comprising: (1) structure that is connected to the extraction assembly; and, (2) an arm having: a proximal end attached to the structure; and, a distal end;

a spinner disc assembly comprising: (1) a spinner disc that: is supported to the arm; positioned near the distal end of the arm; and, has a receiving surface; and, (2) a motor that: is supported to the arm; and, rotates the spinner disc;

a chute that is supported to the frame and that comprises a proximal end having an inlet and a distal end having an outlet; wherein the chute is positioned to communicate the associated salt or the like from the extraction assembly, into the inlet, out through the outlet, and onto the receiving surface of the spinner disc;

an adjustment mechanism that is supported to the frame and that moves the chute to adjust the outlet: (1) forward to back with respect to the receiving surface of the spinner disc; and, (2) side to side with respect to the receiving surface of the spinner disc; and,

wherein movement forward to back is perpendicular to movement side to side.

2. The spreader assembly of claim 1 wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:

an opening formed in one of the chute and the structure;

a pin that: extends from the other of the chute and the structure; and, is received in the opening; and,

a first actuator that: is supported to the frame; connected to the chute; and, operates to rotate the chute about a longitudinal axis of the pin to adjust the outlet side to side with respect to the receiving surface of the spinner disc.

3. The spreader assembly of claim 2 wherein:

the first actuator is connected to a first side of the chute;

a second actuator is: supported to the frame; and, connected to a second side of the chute; and,

wherein the first and second actuators operate to rotate the chute about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pin to adjust the outlet forward to back with respect to the receiving surface of the spinner disc.

4. The spreader assembly of claim 3 wherein the chute assembly further comprises:

a cover that: is connected to the distal end of the arm; has an opening; and, is positioned so that the opening is above the receiving surface of the spinner disc; and,

wherein the chute is positioned to communicate the associated salt or the like from the associated hopper, into the inlet, out through the outlet, through the opening, and onto the receiving surface of the spinner disc.

5. The spreader assembly of claim 4 wherein:

the arm comprises: a first proximal portion connected attached to the structure; and, a second distal portion that: is connected to the first portion; and, angled with respect to the first portion;

the spinner disc is supported to the second distal portion of the arm; and, the cover is supported to the first proximal portion of the arm.

6. The spreader assembly of claim 5 wherein the structure comprises:

first and second side members each having first and second apertures; first and second rods;

wherein the first rod is received in the first aperture of the first side member and the first aperture of the second side member; and,

wherein the second rod is received in the second aperture of the first side member and the second aperture of the second side member.

7. A method comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a chute assembly comprising: a frame comprising: (1) structure; and, (2) an arm having: a proximal end attached to the structure; and, a distal end; a spinner disc assembly comprising: (1) a spinner disc that: is supported to the arm; positioned near the distal end of the arm; and, has a receiving surface; and, (2) a motor that: is supported to the arm; a chute that is supported to the frame and that comprises a proximal end having an inlet and a distal end having an outlet; and, an adjustment mechanism supported to the frame;

(B) mounting the structure to a hopper that dispenses salt or the like;

(C) using the adjustment mechanism to move the chute to adjust the outlet side to side a first direction with respect to the receiving surface of the spinner disc;

(D) dispensing salt or the like from the hopper, into the inlet, out through the outlet, and onto the receiving surface of the spinner disc; and,

(E) rotating the spinner disc with the motor to cause the salt or the like to be spread onto a ground surface in a manner that is significantly different than if step (C) had not occurred;

using the adjustment mechanism to move the chute to adjust the outlet side to side a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction with respect to the receiving surface of the spinner disc;

dispensing salt or the like from the hopper, into the inlet, out through the outlet, and onto the receiving surface of the spinner disc; and,

rotating the spinner disc with the motor to cause the salt or the like to be spread onto a ground surface in a manner that is significantly different than provided with step (C).

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

step (A) comprises the step of: providing the adjustment mechanism with: an opening formed in one of the chute and the structure; a pin that: extends from the other of the chute and the structure; and, is received in the opening; and an actuator that: is supported to the frame; and, connected to the chute; and,

step (C) comprises the step of: operating the actuator to rotate the chute about a longitudinal axis of the pin to adjust the outlet side to side the first direction with respect to the receiving surface of the spinner disc.

9. The method of claim of claim 7 wherein:

step (A) comprises the step of: providing the structure with first and second side members each having first and second apertures; and,

step (B) comprises the steps of: inserting a first rod into the first aperture of the first side member and into the first aperture of the second side member; and, inserting a second rod into the second aperture of the first side member and into the second aperture of the second side member.

10. A method comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a chute assembly comprising: a frame comprising: (1) structure; and, (2) an arm having: a proximal end attached to the structure; and, a distal end; a spinner disc assembly comprising: (1) a spinner disc that: is supported to the arm; positioned near the distal end of the arm; and, has a receiving surface; and, (2) a motor that: is supported to the arm; a chute that is supported to the frame and that comprises a proximal end having an inlet and a distal end having an outlet; and, an adjustment mechanism supported to the frame;

(B) mounting the structure to a hopper that dispenses salt or the like;

(C) using the adjustment mechanism to move the chute to adjust the outlet side to side a first direction with respect to the receiving surface of the spinner disc;

(D) dispensing salt or the like from the hopper, into the inlet, out through the outlet, and onto the receiving surface of the spinner disc; and,

(E) rotating the spinner disc with the motor to cause the salt or the like to be spread onto a ground surface in a manner that is significantly different than if step (C) had not occurred;

using the adjustment mechanism to move the chute to adjust the outlet forward to back a first direction with respect to the receiving surface of the spinner disc, wherein movement forward to back is perpendicular to movement side to side;

dispensing salt or the like from the hopper, into the inlet, out through the outlet, and onto the receiving surface of the spinner disc; and, rotating the spinner disc with the motor to cause the salt or the like to be spread onto a ground surface in a manner that is significantly different than provided with step (C).

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

step (A) comprises the step of: providing the adjustment mechanism with: an opening formed in one of the chute and the structure; a pin that: extends from the other of the chute and the structure; and, is received in the opening; a first actuator that: is supported to the frame; and, connected to a first side of the chute; and, a second actuator that: is supported to the frame; and, connected to a second side of the chute; and,

the step of: using the adjustment mechanism to move the chute to adjust the outlet forward to back a first direction with respect to the receiving surface of the spinner disc, comprises the step of: operating the first and second actuators operate to rotate the chute about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pin to adjust the outlet forward to back a first direction with respect to the receiving surface of the spinner disc.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

using the adjustment mechanism to move the chute to adjust the outlet forward to back a second direction that is substantially opposite the first forward to back direction with respect to the receiving surface of the spinner disc;

dispensing salt or the like from the hopper, into the inlet, out through the outlet, and onto the receiving surface of the spinner disc; and,

rotating the spinner disc with the motor to cause the salt or the like to be spread onto a ground surface in a manner that is significantly different than provided when the adjustment mechanism moved the chute to adjust the outlet forward to back the first direction.